Syringe having at least one radially-outwardly extending panel

Abstract

A syringe is provided herein for injecting medication into a patient, the syringe including a tubular barrel having opposing inner and outer surfaces, an open proximal end, and a distal end having a wall extending thereacross. An opening is defined in the wall with a needle mount extending distally from the wall about the opening. A first panel extends radially outwardly from the outer surface of the barrel, the first panel having opposing first and second faces. Further, a first scale including a series of spaced-apart first graduations is disposed on the first face of the first panel. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a syringe may be provided having a planar portion, in addition to its barrel, with graduations marked thereon for improved viewing by a practitioner in determining a proper dose amount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A syringe for injecting medication into a patient, the syringe comprising:
 a tubular barrel having opposing inner and outer surfaces, an open proximal end, and a distal end having a wall extending thereacross, an opening being defined in said wall with a needle mount extending distally from said wall about said opening;   a first panel extending radially outwardly from said outer surface of said barrel, said first panel having opposing first and second faces; and,   a first scale including a series of spaced-apart first graduations disposed on said first face of said first panel.   
     
     
         2 . A syringe as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first graduations disposed on said first face of said first panel extends uninterruptedly at least partially about a circumference of said barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising a second panel extending radially outwardly from said outer surface of said barrel, said second panel having opposing first and second secondary faces. 
     
     
         4 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising a second scale including a series of spaced-apart secondary graduations disposed on said first secondary face of said second panel. 
     
     
         5 . The syringe as in  claim 4 , wherein said secondary graduations are spaced-apart at different intervals from said first graduations. 
     
     
         6 . The syringe of  claim 4 , wherein said first face and said secondary first face both face in generally the same direction. 
     
     
         7 . The syringe of  claim 3 , wherein said second panel extends from said outer surface of said barrel in a generally diametrically opposing direction from said first panel. 
     
     
         8 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange disposed on said outer surface of said barrel about said proximal end. 
     
     
         9 . The syringe as in any of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel includes a plurality of edges extending between said first and second faces, a first of said edges facing proximally, a second of said edges facing distally, and a third of said edges extending between said first and second edges, said first edge being spaced distally from said flange to define a space therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The syringe of  claim 8 , wherein said flange having first and second flange portions extending radially outwardly from said outer surface of said barrel in opposing directions, said third edge being located radially outwardly a first distance from said outer surface of said barrel, said first flange portion extending radially outwardly a second distance from said outer surface of said barrel, said first distance being 80%-150% of said second distance. 
     
     
         11 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel is radially aligned with said first flange portion on said outer surface of said barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein said first scale being presented based on at least one physiological parameter. 
     
     
         13 . The syringe as in  claim 12 , wherein said physiological parameter is selected as one or more from a group consisting of: age of a patient, gender of a patient, actual weight of a patient, ideal weight of a patient, body surface area of a patient, severity of a patient's condition, level of impairment of a patient's one or more organs, concentration of a medication, patient's resistance to a medication, pharmacokinetics of a medication, and allometrically scaled dosing of a medication. 
     
     
         14 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein said first scale increases in magnitude in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         15 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein said barrel is formed of thermoplastic. 
     
     
         16 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein the syringe is a plastic disposable syringe. 
     
     
         17 . The syringe of  claim 1 , further comprising a plunger formed to be inserted into said barrel through said proximal end. 
     
     
         18 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel is unitarily formed with said barrel. 
     
     
         19 . The syringe of  claim 1 , wherein said first panel has a planar surface. 
     
     
         20 . The syringe of  claim 3 , wherein said second panel has a planar surface.